More than 200 people were killed in the powerful earthquake which hit the south American country on Saturday.

The US Geological Survey said the shallow quake that hit on Saturday evening was centred 16 miles (26km) from Muisne in a sparsely populated area of fishing ports popular with tourists.

A state of emergency has since been declared in six of Ecuador's 24 provinces - with 10,000 armed forces deployed and 4,600 national police sent to the towns near the epicentre.

Homes, buildings and roads have been reduced to rubble - with more than 70% of the town of Pedernales, a town of 40,000, destroyed.

Sister Clare died along with a number of local girls in the school.

In a statement to the BBC, the 33-year-old's family said: "On Sunday 17th April, we lost our daughter, sister and aunt Sister Clare Theresa Crockett as a result of the earthquake in Ecuador.

"She was situated in a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother Order. At this difficult time we would ask for privacy."

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Coun Elisha McCallion added: "I was really saddened to hear this news this morning.

"It is such sad news for her family and for the whole community who knew Sister Clare. I understand she had been working for some time at a school in Playa Prieta where she was a much loved and valued member of the community.

"The sympathies of the people of the Derry City and Strabane District Council go out to her family and friends, and indeed the wider Church community."